Gas-meter.



1 w. BRITTON.

GAS METER.

APPLICATION FILED-FEB. 11, 1915.

1,149,716. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET COLUMBIA PLANOHRAPH C0.,WASl-IIN IITON, D. c.

M 2% XM 7 fig J W. BRITTON.

GAS METER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1915- a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 10,

J. W. BRITTON.

GAS METER.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 17, 1915.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.,WASHINGTDN. D. c.

Warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAM BBITToN, or LONDON, ENGLAN AssIc oa TO THE GAS METER COMPANY LIMITED, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

Gas-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Aug. 10,1915.

Application filed February 17, 1915. Serial No. 8,874.

tain new and usefulImprovements in Gas- Meters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention for improvements in and relating to gas meters has for its object to provide a meter suitable for use with high pressure and consists in constructing the meter so that it has the appearance 'of one cylinder intersecting'another at right angles, a large horizontal cylinder which contains the leather diaphragms of the bellows, and has at its upper part a small vertical cylinder containing the valve mechanism and at it lower part a small vertical cylinder serving as a stand for the complete apparatus; and in attaching the leather diaphragm to the horizontal cylinder without the use of solder; and in the attachment of the diaphragm to the'valve actuating mechanism and in the general arrangement of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a gas meter constructed according to this invention, a part of the casing being removed,

Fig. 2 is a plan illustrating the valve mechanism, Fig. 3 1s a vertical section taken at 38 Fig. 2 and Fig. t is 'a section through i comprises a horizontal cylindrical portion a I provided with end covers, a cylindrical base portion 7) and a cylindrical valvev chamber 0 attached to the cylinder (6 at right angles thereto. e

The cylinder (4 contains circular leather bellows diaphragms' d which are eachcut from a single piece of leather and are clamped between smallermetal disks 6 on both sides. between them are clamped together on a short stem f provided with a collar and clamping nut 7, said stem projecting from the outer disk 6 into the slotted arm 9 of a cranked rod k or T piece that transmits the motion to the valves. 7

The slotted arm 9- of the crank .or T piece is guided on the stem 7 by three revolving metal rollers or washers 2', 2' 71 being placed These disks with the diaphragm over the roller 71 and between the washers i, i and the whole is kept in position by a nut 7' suflicient play being allowed for the stem f to move along the slot 1n the arm 9 when the meter is working and so oscillate the crank rod and thus operate the valve mechanism.

. band Z soldered around its inner edge, formed vforexample of a split metal tube. The tube besides being s'pliti scalloped as shown so that it can beopened for the reception of the edge of theleather diaphragm, and when so placed, an iron wire ring mis inserted into the metal tube and presses over the leather.

The. scalloped parts of the metal tube Z are then rubbed down onto the wlre, a gas tight joint being formed. It will be evident I that with this construction the leather disks Y can be detached and replaced without the use of solder. In this connection it may be mentioned that an arrangement for fixing the dlaphragms 1n the usual rectangular frames of dry gas meters is known in which a locking wire ring is sprung into an internal groove in the frame, but in that case the ring is heldin position by its own resiliency and not secured as described by bending around it a soft'metal band or split tube.

- valve n n are mounted in alinement and guided in rectilinear paths over ported seats 0 0 by tail rods- 29 p workin in guide lugs, the valves being actuated in their movements over the ports by a two throw crank Q connected by links 1' with arms r on the upper ends of the cranked rods 2..

An exhaust or discharge chamber y is arranged between the distributing chamber 0 and the measuring chambers, the valve seats 0 0 being mounted on the upper wall of the chamber y which is adaptedto be put in communication through the ports 0 0 with all the measuring chambers. The ports 0? also provide, when uncovered, direct communication from the distributing chamber to the measuring chamber. It will be seen therefore that this arrangement of valves, ports, and exhaust chamber provides a dichambers and precludes the possibility of the meter becoming choked by the accumulation of foreign matter likely to prove deleteriou to the faces of the valves and also reduces resistance to the action of the meter to a minimum. The space between the body of the meter and the valve plate, forming an exhaust chamber which is much larger than usual, permits the gas to flow more freely to the outlet.

As shown in Fig. .2 the gas passes from the inlet m to the valve chamber and thence direct to the measuring chamber of the bellows as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 3, being delivered therefrom to the chamber y communicating with the outlet g The index is placed in a box 8 in the front of the meter and may be taken out for inspection without interference with the internal mechanism of the meter. The spindle t to which the index is connected passes through a stufling box in the ordinary way. But as a further safeguard against leakage, a long socket u with a flanged end u is placed on the index spindle behind the stuffing box, and between the back of the stuffing box and flanged spindle a leather washer o is fitted and kept constantly in place by a spring 12 which extends between a collar soldered on to the index spindle and the flange on the socket, which is loose on the spindle.

The principal advantages of the improved meter are simplicity of construction and greater strength of easing as compared with other types of meter with equal measuring capacity, simplicity of valve chambers and diaphragms which greatly reduce the inertia resistance to working existing in the present type of dry gas meters, and simplified method of fixing leathers to new meters, and of removing and renewing when repairs to the meter are necessary.

The connection of the disks to the horizontal stems which operate the valves, is simple and effective, and allows more freedom of movement to the leather, which tends to keep it in a more supple condition, when the meter is working, than in the present form of leathers used which have a tendency to collapse at the top as soon as they become dry.

Having thus particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. 1 claim 1. A dry gas meter comprising in combination a body or casing having a horizontal cylindrical portion divided internally by de tachable bellows diaphragms into measuring chambers, a cylindrical valve or distributing chamber mounted directly on the bellows chamber at right angles thereto, an exhaust or discharge chamber arranged between a portion of. the distributing chamber and the measuring chambers and common to allthe measuring chambers, valve ports and valves arranged to provide a direct passage to the measuring chambers from the distributing chamber and from the measuring chambers to the common exhaust or discharge chamber, and means for freely transmitting the motion of the bellows diaphragms to the valves.

2. In a dry gas meter, the combination with a casing of a bellows diaphragm, and means for detachably securing said diaphragm to the casing comprising an annular metal band and a ring seated within said band, the edge of the diaphragm being inserted between saidring and the band, and the edge of the band being bent around the ring whereby the diaphragm is securely clamped and a gas-tight joint is formed.

3. A dry gas meter comprising in combination a body or casing having a horizontal cylindrical portion divided internally by detachable bellows diaphragms into measuring chambers, a cylindrical valve or distributing chamber mounted directly on the bellows chamber at right angles thereto an exhaust or discharge chamber arranged between a portion of the distributing chamber and the measuring chambers and common to all the measuring chambers, valve ports and valves arranged to provide a direct passage to the measuring chambers from the distributing chamber and from the measuring chambers to the common exhaust or discharge chamber, and means for freely transmitting the motion of the bellows diaphragms to the valves, said means comprising central stems provided with friction rollers, and cranked rods having slotted arms thereon, said rollers engaging in the slots in said arms.

l. A dry gas meter comprising in combination a body or casing having a horizontal cylindrical portion divided internally by detachable bellows diaphragms into measuring chambers, a cylindrical valve or distributing chamber mounted directly on the bellows chamber at right angles thereto, an exhaust or discharge chamber arranged between a portion of the distributing chamber and the measuring chambers and common to all the measuring chambers, ported valve seats and valves mounted on the upper wall of the common exhaust chamber and arranged to provide a direct passage to the measuring chambers from the distributing chamber and from the measuring chambers to the common exhaust or discharge chamber, and means for freely transmitting the motion of the bellows diaphragms to the valves, said means comprising a two throw crank, said valves being mounted in alinement and guided in rectilinear paths over the ported seats mounted on the upper wall of the common exhaust chamber.

5. A dry gas meter as set forth provided with a cylindrical valve chamber with slide valves mounted in alinement ported seats for said valves over which the valves are guided in rectilinear paths bellows for actuating said valves, and connections between said In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM BRITTON.

bellows and said valves including a cranked Witnesses: rod connected with the bellows, and a two S. NASH, throw crank connected with said rod. E. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C. 

